Now, Prajakta Sawant Denied UK Visa

Badminton player Prajakta Sawant on Friday sought intervention of Bombay High Court after she was refused visa by the UK authorities for her trip to London to participate in All England Open Championship, commencing March 5.

Mumbai: Badminton player Prajakta Sawant on Friday sought intervention of Bombay High Court after she was refused visa by the UK authorities for her trip to London to participate in All England Open Championship, commencing March 5.

Sawant is scheduled to leave on March 3. However, the division bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah on Friday said the court could not do anything at this stage, but asked the Centre and the Union Sports Ministry to take up the matter with the UK High Commission.

Badminton Association of India (BAI) told the court it had given a letter to Sawant, declaring that she had been selected for the tournament.

According to Sawant, the UK High Commission office in Hyderabad refused her visa on the ground that her name was not found on the BAI website. But BAI lawyer said that it had recommended Sawant for visa.

BAI does not process the visa applications of the players and every player has to apply individually, the lawyer added.

However, upon Sawant's plea, the Court asked BAI to give a new letter addressed to the High Commission immediately, requesting the authorities to grant her visa. The bench suggested that BAI should persuade the High Commission by putting in its best efforts.

Next hearing would be on March 4. Earlier, Sawant had moved the Court against the renowned badminton player Pullela Gopichand after she was denied entry into all India national coaching camp held at Gopichand's academy in Hyderabad.